After years in the business as a backup singer for a number of big name pop and rock acts, Sheryl Crow hit it big with Tuesday Night Music Club, an album chocked full of catchy, well-crafted, radio-orientated pop tunes. Nothing on that album, though, really hinted at what lay in store for 1996's self-titled album. Crow had become one of those very few artists who has been both lucky and brave with her career. Her years as a backing vocalist had made her industry savvy, and the big success of her debut album gave her enough industry clout that she could assume creative control of her subsequent albums.

In addition to singing and writing or co-writing all of the songs on the album, Crow also produced and plays guitar, bass, and Hammond organ on the disc. She brings to this album, a bigger, noisier, more rock n' roll sound to complement a more accomplished, edgier collection of songs. The guitar sound is somewhere between the Stones of Exile on Mainstreet and early Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Crow's voice is less studio- produced sounding than it was on her previous record, moving from a sweet soul/R&B sound on "Everyday is a Winding Road" and "Hard to Make a Stand" to a harsher, harder-edged, almost Janis Joplin-like buzz on "If It Makes You Happy" and "Ordinary Morning."

"Maybe Angels," "A Change," "Sweet Rosalyn," "Everyday is a Winding Road," "Love is a Good Thing," and "Hard to Make a Stand" round out a great record.

The title of Sheryl Crow's debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club, was the name her and the group of musicians that wrote and played on the album called themselves. As the title of her eponymous second album suggests, it is all about Sheryl Crow. She was questioned on how much of her first album she was actually responsible for and if she was just a product of other's efforts. This album puts those accusations to rest and with its superiority to the first record, the Music Club may have been holding her back. She sings, produces, writes, plays guitar and keyboards and she deftly mixes ballads and rockers. The ballads like "Home", "The Book" and "Redemption Day" emphasize her ability to bring emotion into a song. "A Change" has a bluesy guitar riff and "Hard To Make A Stand" has a 70's rock feel. "If It Makes You Happy" contains the best vocal work of her career and hit number nine on the Billboard charts. "Love Is A Good Thing" started a minor controversy with its attack on Wal-Mart selling guns. Ms. Crow was dead on with her assessment on the giant retail chain's hypocryptal stance on banning certain albums from their chains yet selling guns to teenagers. It's this ability to touch a chord that makes the album stand out. "Superstar" has a soaring and lush melody and "Every Day Is A Winding Road" with its bright and sunny music and lyrics is the best song on the album. Sheryl Crow proved that Ms. Crow was no flash in the pan and was one of the few bright lights on the rock music scene.

Sheryl Crow's self titled second album is leaps and bounds better than her debut, not to say it was horrible or even bad, but this is truly a great album start to finish. I think this is the album where Sheryl truly found her own voice in terms of her own style of songwriting and just the approach to the music. The album had some very successful singles in "If It Makes You Happy", "Everyday Is A Winding Road" and "A Change Would Do You Good", which are now standard Crow clasics. There are some truly brilliant moments on the album in addition to these hit singles. "Home" is gritty and personal, one of the best songs on the album. "Redemption Day" has some really sharp lyrics that make you think. Much of the music is layered with drum loops and obscure sounds, giving the album a vintage feel to it, at least I think so. Other highlights include "Hard To Make A Stand", "Ordinary Morning", "Superstar", "Maybe Angels", and more. An excellent album!

This 1996 album shows a lot of promise in who is now known as Sheryl Crow. The sum of the thirteen songs is played somewhat too safe and a tad clunky, but she finds herself in a few gems. Almost like a female "Eagles", Ms. Crow exhibits talent in many styles.

"Ordinary Mornings" has her screaming the blues with a great guitar lead that matches her vocals. "Torch Song" makes for a good bluesy number also with a nice guitar lead. If you're looking for a little country-western rock, "Redemption Day" easily satisfies that area. She could have done an entire album on that subject.

"Hard To Make A Stand" and "Love Is A Good Thing" are MOR but still provide a semblance of good funk to keep anyone satified. Only on the hit, "Everyday Is A Winding Road", Does Sheryl Crow come into her own - and it's a great single that set her off in the direction she now follows. It's upbeat, dancey and cheery.

This may not be her best stuff, but it sure has enough on it to make it worth the purchase.

i'm 14 but don't have an account anymore (used to be joey_starwisher)

As I mentioned in my title I bought this as a tape when I was 4 or 5. Sheryl was the first non-kiddie artist I liked. I bought it on CD nine years later & still love it!

Heres a track-by-track review:

1. Maybe Angels: Interesting concept. Tom Cruise would love the lyrics (LOL!). Very cool beat. Love this one. 10/10

2. A Change Would Do You Good: One of the 5 singles, the fourth to be precise Loved in in the 90's. Love it now. Very cool lyrics about demographics. 10/10

3. Home: Another single, the last. More introspective, quiter and more personal. Still excellent. 9.5/10

4. Sweet Rosalyn: A little dip. Cool guitar, but sounds like it'd be played at a folk bar. 9/10

5. If It Makes You Happy: The first song I ever heard by Sheryl. First single. I love it. It took my nine years to really analyze the message which is deep. Always have loved the guitar. 10/10

6. Redemption Day: Most of my fellow Sheryl fans love this, but i cant get in to it. Like the guitar some what & another song w/ a deep message. 7.5/10

7. Hard to Make a Stand: Very short, simple song. Pretty cool third single. 8.5/10

8. Everyday is A Winding Road: Second single. Another winner! Excelent guitar & fun lyrics. 9.5/10

9. Love is a Good Thing: This song got the album banned from Wal-Mart due to a certain lyric in the beginning. Just listened to this and I now thin its's the best song on here. 10/10

10. Oh Marie: Another deep song about a friend of the narrator's being an emotional train wreck. Very simple melody, hoever. 8.5/10

11. Superstar: Very fun. Can get a little loud though. 9/10

12. The Book: EXCELLENT. Cool lyrics, cool guitar. 10/10

13. Ordinary Morning: Sheryl ends alt of her albums w/ songs about depression or other sad topics. This one's good. 9.5/10

Overall: 120.5/130=9/10

Enjoy this album!